The Northwest Indiana Asset Building Coalition is seeking volunteers to help moderate-to-low income residents file their federal and state income taxes during the 2017 tax season.
The coalition, in partnership with the IRS, provides a free tax preparation program called the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program or VITA for short. The service is available to qualifying individuals with household incomes of less than $54,000. During the 2016 tax season, the Asset Building Coalition and its 101 volunteers prepared over 2,700 federal tax returns.
“As one of 15 program partners in the Region,” said Kim Olesker, president & CEO of United Way of Porter County. “We’re providing a crucial financial stability program to the elderly and young families that might not be able to make ends meet without it.”
The program heavily relies on community volunteers from mid-January through the April 18 tax filing deadline to schedule appointments, prepare tax forms and providing quality control at a tax preparation site. Services are available at a variety of locations throughout Lake, Porter, Pulaski and Starke Counties. Volunteers will receive all training necessary to participate. No experience is necessary to volunteer. If interested in volunteering or learning more, visit UnitedWayPC.org/VITA.